S Florida - the great Dowitcher question (1 Viewer)

I really hate to ask, but here it is again. The Long-billed/Short-billed question.

to me these look short-billed, but this was taken on Lake Okeechobee and it's my understanding Long-billed are more common in freshwater. Plus I'm fairly sure the last flock I phtotgraphed there (last year) was Long-billed.

Maybe the flight photo will help?

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/merryslug/Birds/IMG_6990.jpg?t=1297102089

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/merryslug/Birds/IMG_6997.jpg?t=1297102047

I won't comment on the photo's, as I think it's a no-win situation but I would suggest listening for calls in these flocks of birds.

Bigger flocks are very vocal and the high pitched, strident ''peeps'' and ''keeks'' of the LBDO are easy to pick out from the rather more mellow and rolling ''tu-du-du'' of the SBDO.

I use call whenever possible, far more reliable on birds in basic plumage.

I agree with James, the calls of these two species are the easiest way to tell them apart, especially in winter when the birds are quite drab. Like you said, Long-billeds are more inclined to be found in freshwater, and the shape of these birds backs up that tentative ID. There are some subtle differences in body shape between the two- Long-billeds appear chunkier and more "angled" overall in their body shape than do short-billeds. Thus, I would vote for long-billed based on habitat, location, and body shape, but could easily be wrong. Dowitchers can be frustratingly tricky...

Yeah, the call thing may be the way to go, but it's impossible on an airboat .